Other Emergency Numbers

Source: Missouri Highway Patrol, June 2000

This map depicts the toll-free and special-digit telephone numbers designated by the states for reporting highway emergencies from wireless telephones. Naturally, the lack of standardization creates confusion among motorists, especially those who cross state lines. In 1999 President Clinton signed legislation that designated 911 as the nationwide emergency telephone number. It's expected that, as cities, towns, counties and states implement Phase I and II wireless 911 service, they will also convert these various telephone numbers to 911.

The European Union (EU) has selected 112 as the Union's official emergency number, and required member nations to implement it by Dec. 1992. However, several countries, including England (999), already had three-digit numbers and, since the EU directive, have continued to operate them in parallel with the required 112 number. As yet, the EU has not required nations to use only 112.

Emergency Telephone Numbers of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Countries

Country

Emergency Numbers

Belgium *

100, 101, 112

Croatia

112, 92, 93, 94

Cyprus

112, 199

Czech Republic

150, 154, 155, 158 (112 planned)

Denmark *

112

Estonia

001, 01, 112

Finland *

112

France *

112, 15, 17, 18

Germany *

112, 110

Greece *

100, 166, 199 (112 under consideration)

Hungary

104, 105, 107, 112 (in 1998)

Ireland *

112

Italy *

112, 113, 115, 118

Latvia

01, 02, 03, 04, 112

Malta

196, 199 (112 planned)

Moldova

901, 902, 903

Netherlands *

0611, 112

Norway

110, 112, 113

Poland

112, 997, 998, 999

Portugal *

112, 115

Romania

961

Slovak Republic

150, 155, 158 (112 reserved)

Slovenia

112, 985

Spain *

061, 080, 112

Sweden *

112

Switzerland

117, 118, 144, 112, 143

Turkey

110, 112, 155, 156

Ukraine

(01, 02, 03, 04 until 1999)

United Kingdom *

112, 999

Source: European Telecommunications Office, June 2000. The countries marked with an asterisk (*) are members of the European Union, which has standardized on 112 as the 3-digit emergency phone number. However, the Union does not require countries to use 112 exclusively.